Crazy Rich Asians

Crazy Rich Asians debuted last weekend and hit #1 at the box office. We had plans to go camping Thursday through Sunday so we made sure to get to the theater on Wednesday, the opening day of the movie so that we contributed to box office numbers. Apparently, the last major Hollywood picture with an all Asian cast was Joy Luck Club...25 years ago. That was major back then, but this is definitely different!


While Joy Luck Club was singularly focused on the Asian American's story - first generation, growing up in America, trying to navigate two cultures, Crazy Rich Asians is a fully contemporary love story that can apply to any race. It just happens to have an all Asian cast. THIS is big. Oh, and all the actors are sexy and fun and relatable, aspirational. Look, these people are just like us. Huh. Go figure. Who doesn't walk out their door every day and see Asians? Yea, there's only like 20 million Asians in the U.S. It's a sick wonder why we don't feature prominently in shows and movies. Now that I think about it, it's really REALLY annoying that the demographics of America aren't better represented in television and films. I mean, I guess I'm not in the industry so I'm not so focused on that. Growing up, I don't ever think I ever thought about why there weren't more Asians on television. Guess because at that time, being in Los Angeles, whites did seem like the dominant race and we were in America...and not in Taiwan so yea, television was white. When we went back to Taiwan to visit, television was Chinese.

Now, in my 40s, it's getting tiresome to see that almost all representation of Asians in entertainment have some sort of accent. So annoying. But things they are a-changing. Can't wait to see the sequel to Crazy Rich Asians. Never read the book because the storyline didn't seem that interesting to me, but I sure did love the movie!! LOVED that sneak peek at the end. Glad we stayed past the credits (though since I didn't read the books, had no clue what that was about but was happy she got a look...)

It's interesting to explain the hype to my 9-year old child because we are a predominantly media free household, plus at 9 would she really notice that there's not a lot of Asians in entertainment? In any case, outside of media there is A LOT of coverage on this movie and it's star, Constance Wu. LA Times had a 4-page spread on it the weekend before it opened. And, of course she heard me talking over and over about how the hubs and I had to go see the movie for opening weekend and me pressuring my friends to go see it - as any good Asian would. I get so excited about what a watershed moment this is! And I see her eyes glaze over but I'm sure once she gets older, she'll remember this moment...Well, let's hope she doesn't remember back to this moment 25 years later to say, "Oh yea, I remember when there was that cool, contemporary all Asian cast movie called Crazy Rich Asians that was supposed to break open barriers for everyone...and then it didn't.." #hollywoodsoslow #hollywoodstillsowhite #hollywoodsoold #hollywoodsolame

Hope EVERYONE goes to see this movie because a) it's entertaining b) a win for any "minority" group that's not really a minority is a win for everyone and c) let's keep them coming!!  Asians for the win, man. Asian pride.